Stretcher for carpets



(No Model.)

G. A. MAY.

STRETUHER FOR GARPETS.

No. 444,100. Patented Jan.6,1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GORDON A. MAY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

STRETCHER FOR CARPETS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent ll'o. 444,100, dated January 6, 1891.

Application filed January 20, 1890. Serial No. 337,511. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GORDON A. MAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stretchers for Carpets, 850., of which the following is hereby declared to be a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to devices for stretching and holding fabrics, and especially such as are employed in laying and securing carpets to the floor. The object is to simplify and improve the structure of this class of stretchers, so that they can be quickly and easily manipulated, will not tear or injure the fabric, will effect the stretching in a smooth even fashion and with great ease to the desired extent, will hold the fabric in determined position until otherwise secured in place, and be easily released and shifted to a new situation as often as may be necessary.

To the end stated the invention consists in certain improvements in construction, substantially as hereinafter detailed, and more clearly pointed out by claims at the end of the description.

In the drawings which accompany and form part of this specification like letters of reference denote like parts of structure throughout.

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation, and Fig. 2 a top plan view, of the improved stretcher as applied in laying carpets upon a floor; Fig. 3, a detail view, in central section, of the clamp and cord detached; Fig. 4c, a sectional view of a modified form of clamp.

The stretcher consists of a staff A, a clamp 13, and an intermediate connect-ing cord, cable, or ribbon C.

The staff A is ordinarily of snliicient length to permit the same to be easily grasped and turned by the operator in standing position. It is furnished with a ferrule at, having pikelike tip or point, and a barrel 1), about which the cord C can be wound as the staff is revolved in the hands, the tippoiut being thrust slightly into the floor for a bearing during the winding operation.

The cord C may be of any suitable flexible material, (rawhide preferred,) and is fastened at one end to the staff A and at the opposite end to the clamp B.

The clamp B consists (usually of iron or steel) of a flat base-plate b and an overarching bracket 0, which rises at the back from said base-plate, then curves over above the same, and near its front end is furnished with a clip or grip-piece d, pivoted by preference to the bracket and bearing against the forward portion of the base-plate b. In the form shown the clip d consists of a metal roller eccentrically pivoted to and between the forked arms of the bracket 0, so that ordinarily the roller will tend to rest by gravity with its face against the base-plate b. The roller d may have a series of longitudinal grooves or be otherwise serrated along its grip surface to better indent and retain the clamped fabric. In lieu of the roller 01 a fiat tongue 61, Fig. 4, may be pivoted to the bracket-arms c, and, like said roller, be arranged to open away from the base-plate b, so as to permit the insertion of the fabric within the clamp and to hold the same thereafter against the backward slip, as desired.

The free end of the fabric, having been loosely thrust into the clamp, is securely held by the clip while the staff A is being turned,

the cord 0 being wound thereon, and the fabric thus properly stretched in the tightening operation. The arching of the bracket 0 above the base-plate 17' provides space for an ample lap or fold of the fabric, so that the free edge or end can be permanently secured laterally at one side of the clamp without disturbing the grip of the clip. hen the stretching is accomplished, the thrust of the open ators foot against the clamp 13 drives the pin e into the floor, therebyholding the clamp, so that the staff A need be no longer retained. The operator is thus left free to manipulate the loose end of the fabric and so to secure it in fixed position. This being efiected the grip of the clamp is released, the clamp slipped laterally along into a new situation, and the stretching operation again repeated.

In laying carpets the use of the staff A permits the operator to stand at one side and entirely clear from that part of the carpet which is being stretched. The fabric is thus re lieved from the weight of the operator, and the stretching requires much less power in consequence and is Without risk of tearing.

Obviously the device can be used for other purposes than in carpet-laying.

Having thus described the invention, what I elai m as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is-- 1. In stretehers, the combination, with a suitable clamp for engaging the fabric to be stretched and a winding-cord attached to said clamp, of an upright revoluble stait attached to said cord and adapted to be extended latorally or at an angle from its pivotal point, so as to be within the grasp of the operator when standing free from the fabric, substantially as described.

2. In stretchers, the combination, with a suitable clamp for engaging the fabric to be stretched and a \vin .ling-cord attached to said clamp, of an upright revoluble staff attached to said cord and adapted to be extended laterally or at an angle from its pivotal point, said staff being provided at its bottom end with a pike-like tip, substantially as described.

l. In stretchers, the combination, with the staff having a pike-like tip, of a clamp com prising a base-plate provided beneath with a retainingpii'i, an overhanging bracket and a pivoted cli p thereon resting at its lower edge against the base-plate, and a flexible winding-c0rd connected to said stait and to said clamp, respectively, substantially as described.

4:. In stretehers, the combination, with the stall, of a clamp comprising a base-plate provided beneath with a retaining-pin, an overhanging bracket and a grip-roller pivoted eceentrieally to said bracket and resting at its lower face against said base-plate, and a [lexible winding-cord connected to said staff and clamp, respectively, substantially as dcscribed.

GORDON A. MAY.

Witnesses:

James I[. Person, (-YEo. 1-. FISHER, Jr. 

